About Callicarpa tomentosa (L.) L.
Callicarpa tomentosa is a species of beautyberry in the plant family Lamiaceae. This species grows as a small tree reaching approximately 5 meters in height, and is native to the Western Ghats of India and Sri Lanka. Its leaves are simple, arranged oppositely, and shaped elliptic to broadly elliptic with an acute or acuminate apex. Its purplish flowers are borne in branched axillary cymes. It produces a globose drupe fruit that contains 3 to 4 seeds. Both the fruits and leaves of Callicarpa tomentosa serve as food for wildlife. The fruits are sometimes used to make herbal medicine. Its leaves are also traditionally used as wicks to light oil lamps. According to Hindu legend, when the Pandavas were in exile, they applied oil to the leaves of this tree and burned them as fuel for light.
